Synchronicity: Book and Hand

So the big news is I finished my book, i.e. the memoir! Well, I typed those magical words "The End". And of course, now I will have to tear it to shreds (Kill Your Darlings as they say) on a re-write.... It's too long, really needs some amputation...  But! This has been a long time coming with so many detours (grief, being kicked out of that writer's group, my sister's death, then my broken hand, the whole settling of the estate, 3 hand surgeries, other crappy stuff) so --- phew!

I was dreading writing that final chapter, which is set in the year 2015 -- a year that started so well and ended so horribly. I really couldn't bring myself to relive it again. Heck I spent more than five years in therapy dealing with it. I suffered PTSD from that damn year. Went through EMDR and EFT therapies to deal with anxiety issues caused by the events of 2015. I just could not relive it again. I couldn't write it on a blank page (or screen if you will).

Then, I thought, hey, just use my blog and my personal journal and pick out passages and copy from there.

Which is what I did. Printed off blog posts. Propped up my handwritten journal. Told myself, don't think, just type. 

And I did. Just type. Typing, copying words I already had written.

While typing I realised that I was actually typing. I mean not-looking-at-my-fingers-or-keyboard typing. My left hand NOT straying off the keyboard as usual since my hand surgeries.  And I was typing FAST! I was almost afraid to look at the computer screen -- imagining all sorts of garbage, gibberish, typos -- but when I looked, it was perfect. I was back at my 120 words per minute speed/error free mode. Typing!

I was amazed! I got my hand back! I can type again. I don't know how long it's been to see that darn left hand flying across the keyboard without a mistake and working like it should. Two years? Or so...   

Well, it's good to have my hand back. So damn good. 

Though I must admit, I still can't pick up small things with it. Like dropped pills, or spilled cat kibble or a nail on the floor. But hell, that's what the other hand is for and I'd rather be able to type than anything else.

You can't imagine how happy this makes me. And at the same time "finish" the book. A coincidence?

And a day or so after I wrote those magical two words "The End" -- my computer bombed! ha!! But I was able to save the manuscript, so all is well. 

Now the memoir is on back burner for a minute or more, while I get ready to edit it.... 

Back Online!

 Finally, after nearly four weeks, I am back up and running.  I'm talking about my desktop computer. Which crashed while I was trying access my online bank account. I mean, BAM, Poof! And Safari (my browser) was killed in action....

Hours on the phone with Tech Support, first at my bank (sorry, a 2 hour wait to speak to Tech Support.... hmmm, wonder why?) Then hours with Mac (Apple) Support, who tried their best but couldn't resuscitate Safari. Pronounced it DOA. Got me online with Chrome but that still didn't work some websites and still couldn't get on the bank's website. Got me Mojave (sp?) but that didn't work either. Firefox worked, sometimes. Told me that my computer was "antiquated" (WHAT?) I got this thing in 2015, Bob picked it out. Turns out Best Buy sold me a "brand new" 2012 model....  grrr. 

Ultimately, got a hold of Tech Support at my bank, talk about rude! That guy told me to "get a new computer!" While I wanted to know how to access my account with Firefox.... He kept repeating "get a new computer" and I guess sort of snapped (well, I didn't yell) but said, "So all your customers have to get a new computer because you upgraded your software? Do you think that's fair?" To which he responded "FUCK YOU!" And hung up on me. Whoa.

Long story short, sort of. I ended up back at Mac/Apple Support and purchased a new Mac mini. The tech support guy said it would configure with my keyboard and monitor so I just needed to buy a new hard drive and to get the latest version, buy it direct from Apple as Best Buy is "known" to sell old versions as new. And once I got the new Mac mini to call Apple Support and they would walk me through transferring my files, setting up everything, etc.

So got the new Mac mini, unfortunately the 2022 version is not available yet, but got the latest one. And when I called a different Tech guy told me I needed two monitors and keyboards in order to transfer my data. Or a hard drive backup. What? This is not what the other guy said....   

Ultimately was able to transfer everything via a thumb drive, which took more than 12 hours of first downloading and then uploading... two days spent doing all that.

Then the tasks of figuring out all my passwords and getting access to all my websites (including this blog) another couple of days spent working on that plus one whole afternoon trying to get Microsoft Office for Mac (my subscription) transferred so I can open my manuscripts... and I tell you, it's amazing I have a hair left on my head.

And another couple of days, cleaning up (boxes, manuals, cords etc.) rearranging my desk and putting everything back in order. Another day to just crash and relax....

Well, I'm back on line.  More later....  Thanks for your patience.